Originally Posted by
Rawley19 
Good norning LGK!!! As promised, here is a summary of meeting Carter, Voynov, and Gagne. Got there shortly after 11am and the line was already impressive, enough so that there were many people in chairs and blankets were everywhere on the ground to sit on. Looked like a Kings refugee camp. Only thing missing was a UN convey handing out bags of rice and flour. Anyways, got in line and quickly realized, standing in sun hot, standing in shade cold. Was like going to Vegas in the summer when you head out of a perfectly air conditioned casino and onto the surface of the sun and then back into a casino; your body starts to question your sanity. Talked to all kinds of people in line and when doing so it becomes apparent rather quickly who became a fan last season during the Cup run, who became a fan when Gretzky came here, and lifelong fan. Out of the 20 or so I talked to not a single one knew who Butch Goring was and 8 of the females I talked to were there just to see Carter. When the line started move and then stop, and then move, and then stop, etc. it looked like I was not going to get in and I thought, "why the hell am I standing in line and I might not even get into the building. X-wing was right, lines suck". That's when they told me to move along and go into Staples, the line went to the back of the store and down a wall, damn. But the three guys I came to see were right there!!!
This is where you can tell people were starting to panic and might not make it to the table for an autograph. At this point the announcement was being made that one autograph per person and no pictures. The mad scramble to figure out what people were going to have signed since many of them brought multiple things was on, it was funny listening to them reason with themselves outloud and to their fellow linemates what they should get sighned. I had my usual, pucks, (I have a wall that I put them on) one of those pucks was one I had been saving just for Carter, a Game 2 Stanley Cup puck from when he got the OT winner. The event was supposed to end at 2pm, (heard they stayed later though) I walked up to the table at exactly 2pm. First in line was Voynov; his english has much improved since I last said hi to him last year. Definitly on the shy side but was very nice and said thank you when I told him I thought he had a good game on Saturday. Carter was next, but I will save him for last. I do not think I heard one word come from Gagne's mouth as I handed him my puck and thanked him for coming out, even after congratulating him on the Cup win, not a word. Carter on the other hand I had a little talk with. I handed him my puck and asked him if he had the Game 2 puck from the OT win and he said no, he didn't even have one of the pucks I had. Asked if he wanted mine and he smiled and said no, the interesting thing was this, until I asked him if he had the puck it looked like he never gave it a thought. Can only imagine that he may be thinking about it now. By the way good people of LGK vBookie, since I am a glutton for punishment, I will be at the Long Beach Staples tomorrow for another meet the players appearance. Should not be that bad, happening between 2-3 on a work day.
1461Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
eddieshack23
Rinkrat 
